NICOLA Sturgeon has been urged to intervene on "heavy-handed and highly disproportionate" policing at COP26. 

Environmental groups hit out at "an atmosphere of fear and intimidation", with a "disproportionately high" number of officers deployed and "intrusive police surveillance".

In an open letter to the First Minister, they accused the police of "kettling" protesters and containing them in "uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conditions" without access to food or water for hours on end.

At least two people suffered panic attacks while being kettled, the groups said, while others were reportedly forced to urinate in public as they were unable to leave. 

Elsewhere, they claimed stop and search powers are being abused and pointed to reports that officers are filming campaigners, listening in to conversations, "unlawfully" demanding personal details and following protesters. 

Police Scotland said protesters were "contained for a short period" in the city centre on Wednesday in order to maintain public safety.

The force also said it was "extremely disappointing that officers were assaulted by having paint sprayed in their faces".

The open letter was penned by the COP26 Coalition, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and the Climate Coalition.

Mary Church, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, on behalf of the COP26 Coalition, said: "We are alarmed and deeply concerned about the approach the police are taking to peaceful protest around COP26. 

"As we hurtle ever closer to climate catastrophe and negotiators determine the fate of billions around the world it is absolutely vital that civil society movements from Scotland, the UK and around the world are able to make their voices heard on the streets of Glasgow.

"Yet police are using intimidatory tactics and abusing their powers to stifle the fundamental right to peaceful protest. 

"From the rent strikes here in Glasgow to women's suffrage and civil rights movements around the world, protest has played a vital role in pushing politicians to make the right decisions. 

"As we stare planetary emergency in the face, that role is needed now more than ever."

Alistair Dutton, chief executive of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), on behalf of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Coalition, said: "It is crucial that people’s demands for climate justice are heard at COP, and civil society’s participation inside and outside the official spaces is essential for a good outcome. 

"That includes protest, marches and other actions. 

"We are very concerned by some of what we have seen from the police on the streets this week. 

"With the Fridays for the Future march tomorrow and the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice on Saturday, we are seeking reassurance that the police will support and facilitate our right to be heard.”

Ben Margolis, interim director at the Climate Coalition, said: “It’s incredibly worrying to see over-the-top policing at these climate talks. 

"The vast majority of people in the UK are now concerned about climate change, which is why more of us – from kids to grandparents and everyone in between – are taking action to hold governments to account. 

"The right to protest is a marker of a free, democratic society. 

"Nicola Sturgeon and the police in Scotland need to safeguard the right to protest and protect the rights of the young people, vulnerable and disabled people who are standing up against climate change.”

Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said it is a "rights-based organisation that puts our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at the heart of everything we do".

He added: "This means that we will protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest at COP26, balanced against the rights of the wider community.

"In order to maintain public safety and minimise disruption during an ongoing protest, Police Scotland officers may use a containment, which is a permitted policing tactic where a breach of the peace is taking place or reasonably thought to be imminent.

"During any public order containment, Containment Liaison Officers will identify those with vulnerabilities or anyone not involved in the protest, and will remove them from any group to ensure their own safety and the safety of others.

"On Wednesday, we engaged with protest groups as they moved through the city centre.

"A group was contained for a short period in the St Vincent Street and Renfield Street area and a plan was then put in place to allow protestors to move to Lancefield Quay near the island site accompanied by a protected escort cordon.

"It was necessary to do this in order to maintain public safety, to keep protestors away from oncoming traffic and to allow vehicles to safely pass the procession.

"We liaised with protest groups to understand what they wanted and to facilitate their requests as far as reasonably possible, balancing their right to protest against potential community impact and safety.

"We will provide a proportionate policing response to any protest and it is therefore extremely disappointing that officers were assaulted by having paint sprayed in their faces.

"Police officers have a right, like everybody else, to do their job without being assaulted and any violence they face during protests is totally unacceptable.

"Those who commit violence against police officers will be dealt with swiftly and robustly and five people have been arrested today for offences in connection with this protest.

"All mutual aid officers are under the command and control of Police Scotland's Chief Constable, Iain Livingstone, and will operate in line with our policies and procedures.

"They have received detailed briefings on the style and tone of policing which will be friendly, fair, accessible and accommodating."